Malcolm-Jamal Warner, known for his role as Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show, has died at age 54 after an accidental drowning off Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast.
Gatekeepers News reports that Warner was on a family trip when the incident occurred on Sunday, July 20.
According to Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Department (OIJ), Warner was swimming at Playa Cocles in Limón Province when a strong current pulled him out to sea.
Beachgoers brought him to shore, and first responders from the Costa Rican Red Cross attempted lifesaving measures but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The official cause of death was listed as “asphyxia by submersion.”
Fox Entertainment, which worked with Warner on the drama The Resident, called the loss “tragic.”
“Everyone at FOX is heartbroken by the tragic loss of our friend and colleague, the extraordinary Malcolm-Jamal Warner,” the company said in a statement.
Tributes have poured in from across the entertainment world. Viola Davis remembered Warner’s cultural impact, writing that “Theo was OUR son, OUR brother, OUR friend… we are gutted by this loss.”
Actor Morris Chestnut said, “He was just a really, really good, genuine guy.” Author-activist Kevin Powell noted Warner “was never someone who was into the celebrity of it… He literally was America’s son.” A spokesperson for Bill Cosby said the comedian found the news “devastating.”
The NAACP honoured Warner on social media, writing “#RestinPower… Your talent and spirit touched many lives, and your legacy will continue to inspire.”
Warner, born August 18, 1970, in Jersey City, New Jersey, broke out as Theo Huxtable in The Cosby Show (1984–1992). He later starred in Malcolm & Eddie, appeared in Reed Between the Lines, and had a prominent role in The Resident. His talents extended beyond acting; he directed TV episodes, recorded spoken-word and music projects, and won a Grammy Award in 2015. Warner is survived by his wife and daughter.
